Objects
Measure
Alcohol
Measure
Quality control
Bushel
[Taken from catalogue entry]
A cast bronze Exchequer Standard bushel measure with opposing lug handles and tripod feet. The vessel is dated 1674 and bears the arms of the City of London. With a volumetric measure of approximately 2256 cubic inches, the measure holds a unit bushel (eight ale gallons or four pecks). This was probably one of a set of standard weights and measures held by the Corporation of London against which those in commercial use could be checked. The Winchester standard was used from the late 15th century until it was superseded by the Imperial Measure in 1826. Massive quantities of grain were needed to feed Londoners so the City authorities tried to control supplies and stockpiles were kept for times of famine, plague and war. The grain was weighed in bushel measures like this one.
[2256 cubic inches is NOT, as stated above, equivalent to Winchester bushel, which, as defined in 1696, measured 2150 cubic inches, the Elizabethan bushel being 2 cubic inches smaller. It is, however, exactly equivalent to eight gallons of ale, which suggests this was used as a wet, as opposed to dry, measure]
Production
Dates of Production: 1674
London, England
Consumption
Corporation of London, London, England
Materials
Metal- bronze
Museological Details
Bushel measure
Museum of London
13555